So, why aren't the gun-nutters boycotting the event?
After all, they can't bring their "blankie".
With more guns, brings more safety right?
Trump could have ditched the secret service easily, all he had to do is ask, he's a former president, not president anymore.
Once their term is over, former presidents' life is far from going back to the ordinary everyday life of paying the bills, stocking up the groceries, or catching a movie in a local cinema. Yes, former presidents can do all of those things, but there are certain rules and protocols they need to follow. Some of them were established in 1958 following the passing of the Former Presidents Act, and some of them are public duties former presidents need to fulfill as they are still public figures holding civic duties.
Former presidents receive a permanent Secret Service. They have the right to choose to what extent they want to be protected, but it is highly uncommon for the former president to refuse this type of protection.